Delivering food, shelter, and hope to the poorest of the poor
Select a donation amount & frequency
On Aug. 14, 2021, more than 60,700 homes were destroyed and 76,100 damaged by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Days later, a tropical storm battered the same area, dumping torrential rain that destroyed crops at the peak of the harvest season.
Empowered by our donors, Cross Catholic Outreach responded with an outpouring of critical aid, including 2.4 million protein-rich Vitafood meals, to meet the needs of earthquake survivors.
With your help, Cross Catholic Outreach wants to build 100 sturdy concrete homes for 100 Haitian families who lost everything. By joining this effort, you will also fuel a broader mission of serving children by empowering parents and restoring their dignity as capable providers and guardians.
The Aug. 14 earthquake and the tropical storm that followed are just two of many natural disasters to strike Haiti. This small Caribbean country, which occupies the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, is in a high-risk area for both storms and quakes, and the uncertainty from these natural disasters contributes to extreme poverty. For real economic progress to be sustainable, the Haitian people need a defense against such catastrophes.
More than 9 in 10 Haitians are extremely vulnerable to natural disasters. You can be a part of the solution by providing quality homes that can withstand the stress of the next quake or storm.
Building disaster-resistant houses is a priority for us, so we will be working with a longtime Catholic partner in Haiti called Espwa to build the new homes. Espwa has a proven track record of providing safe, durable houses. In fact, all of the homes previously built through this partnership stood strong through the recent earthquake. In some cases, the owners of those homes opened their doors to families whose own homes were destroyed. Espwa’s mission is primarily to children in need, and it believes the best way to empower children is to empower their families. This project supports that merciful mission.
Junie and her son are happy with their new house. (Credit to Overture International)
(Images used with credit to Overture International)
Quality building materials such as the concrete, rebar and roofing needed for durable home construction.
The wages of skilled local masons, carpenters and painters to do professional-quality work.
The delivery of the building materials to each home construction site.
Monique’s earthquake-damaged home. (Credit to Overture International)
Monique’s sturdy new home, provided by Cross Catholic Outreach donors.(Credit to Overture International)
Monique Francois is one example of the impact you can have in the lives of earthquake survivors.
This 70-year-old Haitian woman had been living with three adult children and three grandchildren in a two-room house that — like many Haitian houses — was built below reasonable standards. As a result, the weak structure did not withstand the stresses of the earthquake, and several walls collapsed. This left the remaining structure even weaker and the interior exposed.
Even with their combined income, Monique and her family could not afford to rebuild. Then our donors’ support turned their sorrow into joy, and now they have a sturdy, beautiful home and can sleep without fear of the next quake or storm.
By giving today, you can bless other Haitian families with this same joyful experience!
A work crew builds sturdy new houses for families who lost their homes in the 2021 Haiti earthquake.
Jesus said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Today, Christ comes to us in disguise, in Haiti’s children, parents and grandparents searching for safe shelter.
Join us in living out the Corporal Works of Mercy by sheltering the homeless and rebuilding the homes of Haitian earthquake survivors. Your gift will answer the prayers of the poor!
The grateful recipients of an Espwa house in Les Cayes, Haiti. (Credit to Overture International)
Proceeds from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures incurred through June 30, 2023, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
When you include Cross Catholic Outreach as a beneficiary in your will, trust, retirement account or life insurance policy, you will make a difference for poor communities by meeting both material and spiritual needs for generations to come. Create Your Legacy!
Our mission is to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ. Your gift empowers us to serve the poorest of the poor by channeling life-changing aid through an international network of dioceses, parishes and Catholic missionaries. This cost-effective approach helps break the cycle of poverty and advance Catholic evangelization.